Potters Bar’s MP has said he will raise a petition calling for the police to be “fully funded” with Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

It was launched in response to fears over a spate of local burglaries – which included two aggravated break-ins last month and a woman in her 90s being woken up by burglars in her bedroom last Friday (March 2).

Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden said he was “shocked and saddened” to hear about the break-in, and stressed police are doing everything they can to catch those responsible.

However, a spokesperson for Mr Dowden confirmed he will not be signing the petition because “as a minister he’s bound by government collective responsibility”, but he will be raising it with PCC David Lloyd and the area’s Chief Inspector.

The MP said: “I will be meeting with him soon to press the case for Potters Bar to receive a fair share of the funding. This is something I have already raised in Parliament.”

He added: “At the end of last year the government announced that police funding will be protected, and that along with increases in the council tax precept for policing, budgets will actually increase overall.”

PCC Lloyd has told the WHT that he is happy with the current level of core government funding, as recently-expanded powers to raise the police precept of council tax have helped maintain the county’s strong financial position.